Leicester 1 Chelsea 2: MATCH HIGHLIGHTS – Alvaro Morata and N’Golo Kante goals sink Foxes as Eden Hazard makes return from injury at King Power
Spanish striker Morata put Blues ahead before Kante doubled lead but Jamie Vardy penalty made for nervy ending
N'GOLO KANTE scored his first Premier League goal since October to seal his old club's fate and lift Chelsea into second place.
The pint-sized midfielder scores rare but spectacular goals and lived up to his reputation again with a 35 yard screamer in the 50th minute.
It certainly took City keeper Kasper Schemichel by surprise as he was left stranded as the low shot dribbled past his right hand and into the bottom corner of the net.
It's Kante's first league goal since a dazzling solo effort in the 4-0 hammering of Manchester United last season and it was enough to see off a second half fightback from Leicester.
Alvaro Morata had earlier headed Chelsea ahead with his third goal since making a £68 million move from Real Madrid in the summer.
But modest Kante, who drives a mini, will be the one grabbing the limelight for once with his incredible finish which secured three points for the defending champions.
And they sit just one point behind Manchester City for now at least as they get into gear after a shaky start to the season.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte had another Leciester old boy on the bench in Danny Drinkwater but brought on new left back Davide Zappacosta.
Eden Hazard also came on with 12 minutes left for his first appearance of the season as Chelsea's campaign seems to be finally gaining some momentum.
Conte's squad is now brimming with talent and is surely strong enough to handle the rigours of Premier League football and a return to the Champions League which starts on Tuesday with the visit of Azerbaijani's Qarabag to Stamford Bridge.
City boss Craig Shakespeare was forced into a double substitution at half time as his side looked like being overrun.
He brought on Andy King and unsettled winger Demarai Gray to give more bite in midfield but City gave themselves a glimmer of hope from the penalty spot.
Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois legged over Jamie Vardy in the 61st minute and the Leicester striker thumped home a shot from the spot to set up a tense final half an hour.
FACTS, STATS, GOALS AND LOLS
- Leicester have now lost 12 of their last 14 games against Chelsea in all competitions
- Chelsea have now won six of their last seven away matches against the Foxes
- Leicester have only kept one home Premier League clean sheet against Chelsea in 11 matches
- It’s Chelsea’s first away win in September for four seasons
- The Blues have won 14 of their last 18 away matches in the Premier League
- Leicester have now lost 10 of their 15 league matches against the established ‘top six’
WHAT THEY SAID
Chelsea goal scorer Alvaro Morata: "It is important to win here. Always against Leicester at this stadium it is very difficult to win. We were in a good position at 2-0 but suffered to the end. This is the Premier League.
"I am good but the most important thing is we are not in the first places and we look forward to moving ahead in the table."
Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante: "It is always special to play my old team. I had an amazing year here but when I come I try to win and today was important and I am happy to score.
"It is always a pleasure to score but I keep it inside (his celebration) because I want to respect my old team.
"It was a tough game. They had a lot of chances but we fight and had some chances but we won and that is the most important thing."
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SOCIAL SAYS
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
Leicester: Schmeichel 6, Simpson 6, Morgan 6, Maguire 6, Fuchs 6, Mahrez 6, Ndidi 6, James 6 (Iheanacho 6), Albrighton 6 (King 6), Slimani 6 (Gray 6), Vardy 6
Subs not used: Chilwell, Hamer, Amartey, Ulloa
Booked: Ndidi
Goal: Vardy 62’ (pen)
Chelsea: Courtois 6, Azpilicueta 7, Luiz 6, Rudiger 7, Moses 6 (Zappacosta 6), Kante 8, Bakayoko 8, Alonso 7, Pedro 6 (Willian 6), Fabregas 6 (Hazard 6), Morata 7
Subs not used: Caballero, Drinkwater, Batshuayi, Christensen
Goals: Morata 41’, Kante 50’
Star Man: N’Golo Kante